Nigel Sheinwald

Celebrating transatlantic business

Last night I spoke at the Transatlantic Business Awards dinner in New York, which celebrates the very best of British-American business connections. One the highlights of this year's dinner was sharing a platform with Ambassador Louis Susman, my American counterpart in London.

I was pleased to be asked to announce this year's American winner of the Transatlantic Business Award, Tom Glocer, CEO of ThomsonReuters. Tom has created a really remarkable company that represents one of the world’s leading sources of intelligent information for businesses. The UK award went to Peter Sands of Standard Chartered plc and was presented by Ambassador Susman.

Last night was not just about recognizing Tom, Peter and the other winners’ achievements, but celebrating the British-American business relationship in its broadest sense. British companies are the largest foreign investors in the US. The US is the No. 1 investor in the UK. In the last fiscal year alone, there were 621 new American investment projects in the UK, which created nearly 13,000 jobs and amounted to 36% of total inward investment to Britain.  Behind these big picture statistics are real jobs and opportunities that are vital parts of both our economies, and I was pleased to meet people representing some of those companies last night.

Many businesses spend a lot of time considering how their strategies should be shaped by the rise of China, India and Brazil.   It is certainly true that these new markets merit attention, and their growing clout is important. But so is Europe. The economic relationship between the United States and the European Union remains by far the largest, most complex and most important in the world. The European and American economies are the engines of global growth, together totalling 54% of the world’s GDP. In 2008, EU Foreign Direct Investment stock in the US amounted to $1.43 trillion. By comparison, Indian FDI stock in the US was just $4.5 billion, and Chinese FDI stock was only $1.2 billion. Similarly, US investment in Europe is sixteen times more than in all of the BRIC countries combined.  Those facts will change over time, but are going to be with us for the foreseeable future.

These challenging times demand ever stronger international cooperation. One year ago, the world’s largest economies decided to work together, and since then G20 leaders have met three times. The actions our leaders took jointly on financial regulation, fiscal stimulus and other policy areas have prevented another Great Depression. But high rates of unemployment show there is far more Governments need to do to rebuild.

The world economy will not recover unless we remain vigilant about defending free trade. Thankfully, countries have not introduced catastrophic tariffs on a par with Smoot-Hawley. But according to the latest report issued in September, countries have applied a range of trade-restricting measures, which have a “trade-chilling” effect. Protectionist measures risk slowing economic recovery. We need to face down the protectionists and have the courage to complete the Doha Round of international trade negotiations.

I know that the US and the UK will continue to advocate free trade as one important part of the global recovery. Meeting the businesses last night who operate across the Atlantic in innovative, creative and profitable ways reassured me that the best businesses in both our countries will help drive this recovery.

Posted at 08:50 04 November 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

Washington Post climate change panel

I have been asked to contribute opinions to a series of questions on the Washington Post's website about climate change. You can find my first answer here, explaining why the UK believes nuclear power should be part of the energy mix in order to meet the twin challenges of energy security and climate change.

Posted at 10:02 30 October 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

The Perils of Four Degrees

Today in London, our Secretaries for Foreign Affairs and Climate, David and Ed Miliband, published the latest findings from the UK's foremost climate change science research institution - the Meteorological Office's Hadley Centre. Their conclusions are sobering, and come less than 50 days before the world's governments meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the United Nations climate change negotiations.

The scientists as the Hadley Centre have produced a map detailing the impact across the world of a global temperature rise of 4 degrees centigrade (7 degrees Fahrenheit).   This risk is real.  Respected scientists, using the best available scientific and climate data, are now concluding that, if emissions continue to rise, we could see this kind of dangerous global increase in temperatures within our lifetimes.

The map makes clear that not all countries would be affected in the same way by such a rise. The land will heat up more quickly than the sea, and areas of higher latitude, particularly the Arctic, will have much larger temperature increases. The impacts for the human race are shocking and profound.  The map flags only a small selection of these, but they include severe effects on water availability, food production, and rising sea levels.

The US does not escape these. Tropical storms and hurricanes could become more frequent and intense, putting America's coastal populations at greater risk of disaster.  In the interior, the risks of major forest fires will increase, whilst agricultural production decreases. And major US cities such as New York, Washington DC, and Chicago could experience an increase in their hottest days of the year by as much as 18-22°F, affecting more than 30 million Americans.

This is not apocalyptic scaremongering: these are the best assessments by leading British scientists based on the most recent research.  So we need to listen, and act.

This is no longer just an environmental issue: it's geo-political. Profound changes like these risk creating a more unstable and divided world, with intensified competition for dwindling resources, and all the implications for global security that flow from that.

The British government is committed to avoiding this 4c degree rise. We need to minimise the risks of these catastrophic developments by making sure that we ensure global temperatures don't rise by more than 2c degrees. And that's why an international agreement at Copenhagen this December is so important - for all our future security and prosperity.

Posted at 11:58 22 October 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

G20 in Pittsburgh

This week, G20 leaders meet in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for their third summit since the global financial and economic crisis erupted last fall.

This will be a different sort of summit from the meeting in London in April. The world economy is showing the first signs of recovery.  Although it remains fragile, the crisis atmosphere seems to have abated. But, as my Prime Minister has made very clear,  "now is not the time to lose our focus"; nothing can be taken for granted and policymakers must not shirk from the challenges.

So as part of this it will important for leaders to review implementation of the commitments they made in April, including the establishment of the new, more inclusive Financial Stability Board to provide better oversight of financial regulation and supervision and more than $250bn in new bilateral funding for the IMF.

But it will be more than just a stocktaking exercise. President Obama's recent remarks on the forthcoming summit - that "all of us must remember that our work is far from complete" - is a salutary reminder of the profound economic challenges still facing our economies.

There will be much ground to cover but a few key strands are emerging. Can G20 leaders work together towards a new compact for global growth? Can we promote a sustained recovery, including identifying and supporting future sources of growth? How do we best demonstrate that the G20 will continue to take concrete action to mitigate the impact of the crisis on the poorest countries? And how does this process help us to address the acute issue of climate change?

None of these questions is straightforward. But leaders will need to find the answers. I will be in Pittsburgh on Thursday with the Prime Minister; I'll let you know how they all get on.

Posted at 16:27 21 September 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

Iftar at the Embassy

Last night I had the enormous pleasure of hosting an Iftar - the breaking of the daylight fast during the holy month of Ramadan - for over 150 Muslim and non-Muslim guests from US society and government, and fellow Ambassadors from across the world.  We were especially lucky to be joined by the UK's most senior Muslim Minister, Sadiq Khan, and a delegation of British Muslims who had travelled out to the States for discussions with American Muslims and colleagues.

Hosting the Iftar was a double first - both for me personally and for the Residence here in Washington DC.   It required a few special preparations, including the setting aside of a room for prayer and, with judicious use of a compass, establishing in which direction Mecca lay.

At 7.24pm - as the sun slipped below the Washington horizon - Imam Hendi, from Georgetown University, began the call to prayer for those practising Muslims in attendance.  As is traditional, guests were offered dates.  And, after prayers and brief welcomes, the Imam blessed the food - a delicious selection of halal meats, flat breads and fruit kebabs.  For those observing the daily fast, it was time to share food and conversation with friends and colleagues.

Sadiq Khan addressed our guests on behalf of the UK, commenting on the warmth of feeling that exists between British and American Muslims.  His observations on the common bond and character that Americans and Britons share, irrespective of religion, rang very true for me.

Events like this are important.  British culture and society are hugely enriched by the contribution that over two million British Muslims make to life in the UK.  And it is right that the British Embassy plays its part in helping to showcase that.  We're also working to foster more connections between Muslim communities in the UK and the US, strengthening the important people-to-people links between our countries that give life to the special relationship.

As I said to our guests in my welcoming remarks, they were all from different backgrounds and cultures - but we came together that night sharing a common belief - in peace, diversity and tolerance.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Posted at 16:43 11 September 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

Countdown to Copenhagen

Last weekend the British Embassy launched our new "100 Voices 100 Days" countdown to Copenhagen on the website. In just three months, world leaders will gather in the Danish capital to try and find agreement on a climate change deal that Ed Miliband, our Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, describes as "ambitious, fair and effective".   
 
Without a deal, the world risks catastrophic climate change, with huge implications for water and food resources, security and our environment. It is a top priority for the British Government. This Embassy, along with the UK's other Embassies across the globe, is working hard in support of it.
 
In the run up to Copenhagen, there is a huge amount of international activity going on, especially here in the United States.  September is going to be an important month. In the next couple of weeks we have the Major Economies Forum in DC, which Ed Miliband will attend, and will help shape the outline of the climate deal that will be negotiated in Denmark. This will be immediately followed in New York by the United Nations' Climate Week and the General Assembly, at which our Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary will discuss these issues with the Secretary General and other leaders. All this just before the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh, where the focus will be on the global economic outlook and a sustainable recovery.
 
So it's going to be a busy time. As it should be, since time is the one luxury we do not enjoy. Action is needed now.
 
The United States is central to this whole endeavour.  Not just because it has the world's largest economy (with a fifth of the world's global CO2 emissions), but because American engagement is vital to persuading other countries, especially India and China, to act too.  So I warmly welcome President Obama's pledge to help lead this global effort. But American attitudes to climate change, and the country's willingness to take the measures necessary to help prevent it, cannot be settled in the White House alone. Congress is clearly vital too.  In the coming weeks the Senate will restart the debate on climate and energy legislation.  We'll be watching this closely.
 
But it goes even broader than that. This is a subject for the whole of American society and all age groups. State and local governments, business and unions, think tanks and media, universities, school and individuals will all want to pitch into this debate and help shape a collective resolve.  
 
Our "100 voices" campaign is a small contribution to that, allowing everyone to participate in this debate and share ideas about how we go forward. I encourage you to take a look, offer a comment, and even contribute a video yourself. For all of us who share a deep concern about this grave threat, we need an equally deep commitment to take action.
 

Posted at 08:42 04 September 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

The UK Economy: Entrepreneurship & Innovation

When in London earlier this month, I and other senior British Ambassadors met some of the leaders of Britain's manufacturing industry. It was a good opportunity to hear first hand the challenges they were facing. But it also provided a useful reality-check against the ultra-pessimistic stories you sometimes read in the newspapers.

These are difficult times for the global economy. The UK is no different. The world economy is seeing the most difficult economic conditions for generations. What we rarely hear about, though, are the business success stories that are happening every day, drawing on the tradition of entrepreneurship and innovation in the UK.

Take Rolls Royce, who earlier this week announced that they are continuing to invest in the UK's manufacturing and research base at four different sites to produce turbine components and research into greener aircraft engines. It is developments like this that will lead us to recovery. Businesses in the UK and their employees continue to deliver internationally a broad range of high value-added and sophisticated goods and services.

The UK's manufacturing sector is the 6^th largest in the world, contributing $250bn to the UK economy. It is also an area that is evolving into new areas, such as low carbon technologies, and improving its own performance: firms in the UK have increased their productivity through the application of R&D by 50% since 1997, outstripping the gains made elsewhere in the G7.

Internationally mobile companies continue to see the UK as a highly attractive place to invest. We receive more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) than any other country, apart from the US: in 2006 the UK attracted  $40 bn, exceeding France ($25 bn) and Germany ($5bn). American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) is the world leader in the design, engineering and manufacture of driveline and drivetrain systems for trucks, 4WD vehicles and cars. Global success in this highly competitive field depends on the early adoption of leading edge manufacturing techniques. AAM used the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) R&D Programme to identify specialist welding techniques developed by a leading UK research centre.

Our UK Trade & Investment team also of course provide a range of services and help to UK companies looking for opportunities abroad. Take Kromek, a venture-backed high technology company, for example. They recently launched in Washington a series of ground-breaking products based upon digital x-ray detection techniques. They are the first in the world to directly identify the composition and presence of threat liquids, reducing the risk, hazard and costs posed to travel.

Clearly the current situation is difficult. But it is equally clear that there are fundamental business strengths in the UK that will help us to recover from today's downturn. I am proud that sustaining and expanding the business and economic links between Britain and America, and nurturing our business partnerships in difficult times, is a central part of my and the Embassy's job here.

Posted at 10:03 31 July 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

An Ambassador Calls ...

There are not perhaps too many professions where you get to meet your exact, mirror-image counterpart: but I met mine today. Louis Susman, President Obama's new Ambassador-designate to London (or to the "Court of St. James's", as it is traditionally and properly known) dropped by for my take on life in London and the relationship between the UK and USA.

It was a real pleasure to meet Ambassador-designate Susman again. He has long-standing UK connections, and we met during the Presidential Inauguration celebrations. I have no doubt that he will be a great asset for the United States in London, and a firm advocate of the special relationship between our two countries. He goes to the UK at an important moment for the transatlantic partnership. The international agenda is a crowded one: from Afghanistan to the global economy, from Iran to climate change, we face a raft of truly significant, but never straightforward, challenges. The partnership between the USA and Britain will play a critical role. So he can expect a busy time.

I know from personal experience what a privilege it is to represent your country abroad. It's doubly special to be the British Ambassador to the United States, where historical and contemporary ties have created a real affection for the UK amongst so many Americans. Ambassador-designate Susman will enjoy similar advantages. America has always had a special place in UK hearts, but the excitement generated by the election of President Obama has undoubtedly produced a huge reservoir of goodwill towards the States that will be very obvious to the Ambassador as soon as he steps off the plane.

I wish him the very best of luck.

Posted at 15:24 22 July 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

Economic recovery and the road to Pittsburgh

This week, I've been back in London for a meeting of the Foreign Office's senior leadership. Whilst there I took the chance to see Baroness Shriti Vadera, Minister for Competitiveness and Enterprise, Jon Cunliffe, the Prime Minister's Adviser for International Economics, who also serves as the G20 Sherpa, and sat in on a meeting between Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Chancellor Alistair Darling and US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, who has been visiting Europe.

Unsurprisingly, the global economic recession was the number one item for discussion. Even though the immediate threat to the international financial system seems to have receded, the recession is taking its toll around the world. Crucially, the unemployment rate in most countries continues to rise, exacting a real human cost on millions of households.

We're now almost exactly halfway between the G20 Summit that took place in London in April, and the upcoming meeting scheduled for September in Pittsburgh.

We have made some significant progress on the commitments leaders made in London. Here in the US, the Administration won approval from Congress for a big uplift in the IMF's resources. And proposals for reforming financial regulation have moved forward in the UK, the US and in Europe. You can read the proposals published by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, last week here.

But as well as taking stock of progress since London, leaders in Pittsburgh will want to focus on the future. I think a large part of their discussion will look at what kind of an economic recovery we want to see. After this recession has passed, we want to promote growth that is sustainable and balanced, not prone to speculative bubbles and overly reliant on particular sectors or countries. We need to make sure that recovery takes place in the context of the Copenhagen Climate Conference this December, where countries will seek a global agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Developing that agenda with our US counterparts will be a top priority for the Foreign Office and the embassy over the next couple of months.

Posted at 03:15 17 July 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[1]

Helmand: the UK commitment and the US troop uplift

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made clear the UK's unwavering commitment to a secure and stable future for Afghanistan. That is therefore a subject on which I and my team in Washington, both diplomatic and military, work extremely closely with the US Administration. As we welcome the large increase of US troops in Helmand, where our troops continue the hard fighting in which they have been engaged for several years now, it is a good time to reflect on what we have achieved so far.

The performance of the 8,300 UK troops (rising to 9,000 for the elections period) currently in Afghanistan has been, and continues to be, impressive and successful.  We are by a long way the second largest contributor to the NATO force, after the US.  Since 2006, when UK forces first deployed to Helmand, much has changed for the better.

After initially taking the fight to the Taliban around the province, UK forces have established a presence in the five major population centres where 85% of the Helmand population live - training the Afghan National Army and Police and allowing development advisers, including from international organisations like the UN, to work with local Afghan leaders and government representatives. All major towns in Helmand are now under the Afghan Government's control.

The UK's Provincial Reconstruction Team in Lashkar Gah now contains over 80 civilians, working across the full governmental agenda to train and support their Afghan counterparts as they make their democratic writ run across the province.

However, despite this progress, the insurgency remains determined, violent, and resilient in Southern Afghanistan. In its indiscriminate attacks, it continues to present a significant threat to the Afghan population. UK forces in Helmand have seen some of the hardest fighting in the whole country, which is reflected by the numbers of casualties we suffer. 176 British Forces personnel or Ministry of Defence civilians have died while serving in Afghanistan since 2001.

So the large increase of US troops and trainers currently being deployed to Afghanistan is welcome. The majority of these forces will deploy to Southern Afghanistan and will be operating closely with the Canadian, Danish, Dutch, Australian, British, and above all, Afghan troops who are already there.

The deployment presents three opportunities. Firstly, to consolidate the security gains we have made in Southern Afghanistan, allowing the Afghan government to operate for the benefit of the Afghan people. Secondly, to put conditions in place for Afghanistan to hold credible and inclusive presidential elections in August. Thirdly, to provide greater assistance in training the Afghan National Army and Afghan police to provide the security themselves.

The United States is our closest ally. Our relationship is based on shared values, working together to tackle threats to international security, to advance global stability, and encourage freedom and democracy. As a result of the US troop inflow in the South, the British military, our civilian staff, and our allies will be able to do much much more to support the Afghan Government, and deliver a stable and secure Afghanistan that can never again foster a terrorist threat.

The British Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth, has today given a speech about the UK's commitment to Afghanistan - it gives a comprehensive assessment of our enduring commitment to Afghanistan, and is worth reading.

Posted at 12:43 08 July 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

The Embassy's open house

The Embassy opens its doors this Saturday as part of EU Open House day - where the embassies of EU members in Washington, DC welcome the public.

These open houses are about more than seeing embassies. Although we are quite proud of our Embassy, this open house is mostly an opportunity to showcase the UK to the American public.

In keeping with one of the top priorities of the UK government, there will be a green theme to our open house. Visitors will have a chance to tour the Residence Gardens, learn how to green their homes and check out the new electric Mini Cooper. We'll also exchange plastic grocery bags with reusable, environmentally friendly bags.

I hope visitors will leave knowing that the UK is a leader on green action.

But equally I hope that they will enjoy a day of British culture and food. The Washington British School will provide entertainment and there will also be traditional British food and whisky available.

In true British fashion, we'll be doing all this rain or shine.

Posted at 15:43 07 May 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

My video blog on the London Summit

Posted at 17:16 26 March 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[0]

It's an exciting time to be in Washington

The embassy hosted a fascinating discussion on US history and its politics with top British historian Simon Schama last night. He's in Washington to promote his four-part documentary "The American Future: A History." His documentary looks at some relevant issues through the lens of US history: jobs and the economy, wars overseas and immigration.

Simon Schama, myself and Thomas Friedman after watching selections from Professor Schama's documentary.

I think this event showcases the diversity of what we do at embassies. They are often thought of as creating political connections between governments. It's important to remember though that embassies build cultural relationships as much as political, defence and economic ones.

We're very busy at this embassy with both political and cultural exchanges. Professor Schama's talk is the first of three events leading up to the inauguration of President Obama on Tuesday. Dr Henry Kissinger will come tonight to give a lecture under the auspices of the Atlantic Council on trans-Atlantic issues under the new Administration. On Saturday, I'm hosting the Illinois delegation to the inauguration.

All three events will bring together people with an interest in the unique UK-US relationship. They will celebrate our cultural, academic and political ties at an exciting and rich moment in America's history and its relationship with its allies around the world.

Posted at 13:04 15 January 2009 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[2]

Launch of the new all Electric Mini: “Mini E”

This week sees the launch of the new all electric Mini. I have particular reason to be happy about this, as I was fortunate to drive one on Monday, at an event held jointly with the German Ambassador. I can confirm that it is possible to get a 6’ 3” Ambassador comfortably into the driving seat of this small but perfectly formed British-German car! The body is built in Cowley, Oxford, with the electric motor and battery shipped from BMW in Germany.

With my first hand experience, I think there are three reasons to celebrate this new twist on a modern icon. With apologies to Jeremy Clarkson…

First, the Mini stands for brilliant British design. It also symbolises youth, confidence, excitement and mobility – in the widest sense of the word. That was true when I was growing up in the sixties in London and remains true today. For those wondering about performance I can reassure you that the new Mini is quick off the mark and great fun too – fully charged it has a range of 120 miles and a top speed of 95mph. The aim of the Mini E’s launch by BMW is to gauge whether there is a sufficient US market by leasing 500 Mini E’s on a trial basis in New York and Los Angeles. 

Secondly, the most significant technical innovation of the all-electric Mini shows that you can have low, or in this case zero carbon, and high growth. That’s good for consumers, good for producers and good for the planet. Low carbon and high growth is of huge importance to the British Government. Last month we hosted a meeting of international experts on electric vehicle technology to get up to 100 innovative low carbon demonstration vehicles on the road by the end of 2010. BMW are also involved.

Thirdly, I’m confident that the new Mini E, being launched on the eve of the original Mini’s 50th anniversary, will also capture people’s imagination and reflect what today’s consumers want: great design, innovation, engineering excellence and a high degree of environmental and social responsibility. I’d like to think that the Mini’s creator, Sir Alexander Issigonis would approve too.

Posted at 12:00 20 November 2008 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[4]

British approach to counter terrorism

I had the opportunity on Wednesday to speak to Columbia University's School of International & Public Affairs about the British response to terrorism. Terrorism is a menace which both the UK and US have suffered from and continue to face. People in New York and my hometown of London - as well as many other cities around the world - know this threat well and have experienced terrible loss and tragedy as a result of attacks in recent years.

Attacks in the US, the UK and many other countries across Africa, Europe and Asia have at their root a misguided and extreme interpretation of Islam. In the UK, threats have often come from people who have been brought up in our communities, while in the US, terrorism has been largely an external threat. So although our approaches have involved very substantial co-operation between our law-enforcement and intelligence agencies, we have different areas of emphasis.

In the UK, we have directed a tremendous amount of resources to the pursuit and disruption of terrorist activity. By 2011, the amount of money being invested in this area will have doubled since 2001. This has allowed us to increase the size of the Security Service and the number of police involved in countering violent extremism. As a result, we are regionalising our counter-terrorism effort in a way we never have before with four regional counter-terrorism policing hubs in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds, with a fifth on the way. These units extend our reach and effectiveness in tackling terrorism.

We have convicted more individuals for terrorist offences. Since the beginning of last year, 81 people have been found guilty as a result of 23 operations. Part of this success is due to the strengthening of our counter-terrorism legislation, for example by widening the range of offences.

We work closely with Muslim communities in the UK, the vast majority of whom share our determination to tackle the extremists and their message. It's important to those communities, and to us, that we define the extremists not by their religion, but by their readiness to commit criminal acts of terrible violence. This is what makes them unacceptable in our society, and why there is broad cross-community condemnation of them and their methods.

It is clear that no country can counter these threats alone. The US is Britain's closest partner in the fight against international terrorism. This is perhaps most obvious in Afghanistan where UK and US troops are engaged in the difficult but vital mission of building a secure and stable country that can no longer harbour terrorists or be used as a base from which to plan and launch attacks on our countries. But in so many other parts of the world the close co-operation and sharing of intelligence, expertise, and technical capabilities between the UK and US makes our efforts to combat terrorism much stronger and more effective. Co-ordinating this joint approach is a priority for the British Embassy. It is essential for both our countries' security that our co-operation should continue and grow.

Posted at 09:21 31 October 2008 by Nigel Sheinwald  |  Comments[3]